By Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, OFM
The first thing I do every morning is to join the seminarians in adoring the Blessed Sacrament. In the small chapel, after we honour the Blessed Sacrament with a simple short hymn, we read the gospel for the day. Following this, the seminarians spend half an hour in silence before the Blessed Sacrament, reflecting on the Word of God in preparation for participating in the Mass.
Act of faith: It is impossible to adore the Blessed Sacrament without faith. If one only sees it as a piece of bread, then sitting before it for half an hour would be nothing more than a waste of time—perhaps even a sign of mental instability. However, from the perspective of faith, it is entirely different! This is the personal presence of our Lord Jesus, for there is nothing in the world more important. He once pointed to it and said, “This is my body” [Matthew 26:26]. Thus, half an hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament becomes a precious moment of being with the Lord.
What to do: The first thing to do is to not do anything. In the chaos of our busy lives, we are burdened with numerous tasks and overwhelmed by work. Even for the seminarians, the schedule is packed. In this rare moment of tranquillity, the priority is to learn and practise emptying oneself.
Spiritual challenge: For many, the first challenge of settling down to adore the Blessed Sacrament is the inability to be quiet. Chaotic thoughts flood in from all directions, bombarding the mind and banging on the heart’s door, sometimes whispering and at other times shouting: “Listen to me! Look at me! You can’t miss this thought! This idea is great for you! … Did you manage yesterday’s tasks? Are you ready for tomorrow’s? In short, the train of thought is always tooting its horn, while the waves of emotion never cease.
Focusing on the goal: If we struggle to repel the various intrusive thoughts, it will be an unwinnable battle. In fact, the act of emptying oneself during adoration is not about remaining in an empty void; it is about creating space for the Lord and preparing to welcome him. Therefore, we should not focus our attention on distractions, but rather strive to concentrate on our Lord Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament, opening our hearts, and seeking to converse with him. Starting with verses of the gospel we’ve heard, we can gradually express all the thoughts and emotions in our hearts, listening to his teachings. Over time, distractions will naturally dissipate.
Regular practice: The principles of spirituality are straightforward, but the true spiritual battle lies in practice and perseverance. This is why regular practice is essential. To nurture future shepherds, the seminary rightly arranges for seminarians to adore the Blessed Sacrament daily. As Christians, we all long for oneness with the Lord. Therefore, should we not pursue this joy and peace of unity through the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament?
